I’ve returned to a more realistic style in this painting. I’m beginning to understand how difficult abstraction,  and looseness in marks is to achieve. Its like learning meditation,  you realize how fidgety and intense the mind can become when your trying to just  relax. Let go. Its good though, the journey teaches you about the destination. I’ll learn more about abstraction and learn more about letting go by being more intense now. Its important to be here now, what ever that may entail.

I’ve continued the month long “make everyday” challenge. Mostly I’ve finished up pieces and worked in the journal/sketchbook. I also managed to sew a few things for the shop. What? Didn’t you know I had a shop on Etsy? I do! The painted Finch  is where I sell all o f my Arts + Crafts including my paintings. I’ll be adding more soon.

From days 5-7 two Lilies paintings.
Acrylic on wood panel.

I’m really liking this new size panel. I used to work in 6×6 which felt cramped for my style. These new paintings are 8×8 which seems just right.

The paintings are still works in progress and I’ll probably work on them again in the next few days.

I’ve started a “Paint Everyday for a month” project. I thought about calling it ‘Make a Month’ or PEFAM. I don’t know, votes are still pending on that one. There are no rules really, only that I need to sit in that chair and make something, anything! everyday.

On the 1st I sketched out the oranges, the next day I painted the painting shown. Yesterday I painted 2nd oranges painting which I’m not to fond of it at the moment. Today I’ll probably work a little more on it, maybe try and save it. We’ll see, it may be beyond hope.

I won’t post pics everyday, but will most days. It feels great to be painting again, but man it was hard to start after such a long hiatus.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“Boats” (unfinished)

Acrylic
8×10
watercolor paper

I painted this last spring,  it was for a challenge on the Wet-canvas Forums.  It was tricky with so many boats and I hadn’t painted water much, so that was new, but I like how it turned out.

So I got the Holbein water soluble oils,I think I’m still on the fence about them. They definitely are lacking the  squishy mushy blending qualities that regular oils have. They actually feel more like acrylics.

I’ve heard the W&N version are gritty, these are definitely not gritty and with a little Walnut oil they move around on the palette like a oil. I do find I need to use a lot more paint, also the names aren’t the same as most paints. We’ll see, I’m going to play a little more with them.

Acrylic
Canvas board

I painted this is 2009. It feels life ages ago but also like last week. I’m pretty sure this was from an exercise in a book.  I remember feeling unsure about how things were going while I was painting it, but then being happily surprised at how it turned out.

47 paint brush strokes (not including the background)

The challenge comes from Nancy Colella on The DPW. The goal is to practice bold strokes with lots of paint. It keeps you from getting stuck on details and overworking areas of your paintings.

+ Set up a simple still life , Sketch out basic shapes. Each shape will be a brushstroke.
+ Count the number of shapes, write that number down.
+ Start with the darkest color
+ For each brushstroke make a mark  to help keep track.

Try to come as close to the original number as you can. Its harder then it looks but the out come is a beautiful abstract painting.

Happy birthday cupcake Card
Acrylic
on Cardstock
7 x 5 inches

For my Dad ♥!

I had a lot of fun making this, I love working with such fun bright colors. I’ll have to make more cupcake paintings. Plus a bonus, when I’m done painting I get to eat the still life. Yum.

“Before the Fall”

9×12 inches

Acrylic on Watercolor paper

Ok, ok, so the last post I was complaining about oils and saying how much I missed Acrylics. Turns out life and circumstances has made decisions for me. Isn’t that always the way?! Anyway, My studio is Tiny with one large north facing window. Even with the window though, its not enough ventilation for oil painting.  And with the upcoming winter I just don’t see how this’ll work. So, for right now until we move or I get a larger studio space its back to Acrylics. I am going to try some other alternatives like Holbein’s Aqua oils they are on the expensive side but I here they are the best in pigment saturation.